USPTO's Squires weighs returning decisions on patent review merits to PTAB panels
By Melissa Ritti ( September 29, 2026, 22:17 GMT | Insight) -- US Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires said Tuesday he is considering returning decisions on the merits of patent review petitions to Patent Trial and Appeal Board panels while retaining control over discretionary denials. He also told members of the Senate Judiciary IP Subcommittee his office has finished reviewing comments on a proposed rule limiting repeat patent challenges and is awaiting White House review.The Patent Trial and Appeal Board may regain responsibility for deciding whether patent challenges meet the statutory merits threshold for institution, while US Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires continues to decide whether to deny them on discretionary grounds, he told senators Tuesday....
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